Tip Top Grill: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Tiptop.PNG|right|225px|thumb|Tip Top Grill in June, 2009]]
[[Image:Tiptop.PNG|right|thumb|575px|Tip Top Grill in June 2009]]
'''Tip Top Grill''' is a breakfast and lunch eatery at 588 [[Shades Crest Road]] in [[Hoover]] with a seating area overlooking [[Shades Valley]] on top of [[Shades Mountain]].   
:''This article is about the Bluff Park restaurant. For the former 20th Street South restaurant, see [[Tip Top Grill (Southside)]].''
'''Tip Top Grill''' was a 600 square-foot breakfast and lunch eatery located at 588 [[Shades Crest Road]] in [[Hoover]], with a seating area overlooking [[Shades Valley]] / [[Oxmoor Valley]] to the north.   


The small restaurant is located inside a former gas station at the intersection of Shades Crest Road and [[Park Avenue Hoover|Park Avenue]] in the [[Bluff Park]] neighborhood. It opened in September [[2003]], and is owned by [[Mike Wammack]].  The former Citgo station, which features 12 stools inside, is owned by developer [[Ronnie Whitworth]], who invested $40,000 to convert the station into an eatery. Tip Top Grill is managed by Wammack's partner [[Bob Hoeferlin]].
The small restaurant was located inside a former Citgo gas station at the intersection of Shades Crest Road and [[Park Avenue Hoover|Park Avenue]] in the [[Bluff Park]] neighborhood. Developer [[Ronnie Whitworth]] invested $40,000 to convert the building into a 20-seat eatery. [[Mike Wammack]] and his operating partner [[Bob Hoeferlin]] leased the space to open the restaurant in September [[2003]]. In addition to the indoor seating, the outdoor cliffside terrace could seat 120 diners.


The owners were inspired to open the tiny restaurant by [[Gus Koutroulakis]]' [[Pete's Famous]] hotdog stand downtown, which has been in business over 85 years and has no seats, and hoped the views would bring customers back.
Wammack and Hoeferlin were inspired by [[Gus Koutroulakis]]' [[Pete's Famous]] hot dog stand downtown, an enduring landmark which thrived with no seating. They gambled that the views would bring customers back.


Tip Top Grill was named one of 10 best places to eat outside by the ''Birmingham News'' in May [[2008]].
Tip Top Grill was named one of 10 best places to eat outside by the ''Birmingham News'' in May [[2008]]. [[Curt Reamer]] bought the restaurant in [[2016]].
 
[[Forrest Smith]] acquired the restaurant property in [[2013]]. In November [[2021]] the restaurant announced that it would close, having been unable to reach an agreement to renew the lease.


==References==
==References==
*Nicholson, Gilbert (August 8, 2003) "New Bluff Park eatery has Tip Top view." ''Birmingham Business Journal''.
* Nicholson, Gilbert (August 8, 2003) "New Bluff Park eatery has Tip Top view." {{BBJ}}
*Harvey, Alec (May 23, 2008) "10 great places to eat outside in Birmingham." ''Birmingham News''.
* Harvey, Alec (May 23, 2008) "10 great places to eat outside in Birmingham." {{BN}}
* "[https://www.magiccityweekend.com/tip-top-grill-isnt-a-hole-in-the-wall-its-a-hole-in-a-rock/ Tip Top Grill isn’t a hole in the wall, it’s a hole in a rock!]" WBRC 6 Magic City Weekend


[[Category:Hot dog stands]]
[[Category:Former hot dog stands]]
[[Category:Shades Crest Road]]
[[Category:Shades Crest Road]]
[[Category:2003 establishments]]
[[Category:2021 disestablishments]]

Latest revision as of 18:12, 29 November 2021

Tip Top Grill in June 2009
This article is about the Bluff Park restaurant. For the former 20th Street South restaurant, see Tip Top Grill (Southside).

Tip Top Grill was a 600 square-foot breakfast and lunch eatery located at 588 Shades Crest Road in Hoover, with a seating area overlooking Shades Valley / Oxmoor Valley to the north.

The small restaurant was located inside a former Citgo gas station at the intersection of Shades Crest Road and Park Avenue in the Bluff Park neighborhood. Developer Ronnie Whitworth invested $40,000 to convert the building into a 20-seat eatery. Mike Wammack and his operating partner Bob Hoeferlin leased the space to open the restaurant in September 2003. In addition to the indoor seating, the outdoor cliffside terrace could seat 120 diners.

Wammack and Hoeferlin were inspired by Gus Koutroulakis' Pete's Famous hot dog stand downtown, an enduring landmark which thrived with no seating. They gambled that the views would bring customers back.

Tip Top Grill was named one of 10 best places to eat outside by the Birmingham News in May 2008. Curt Reamer bought the restaurant in 2016.

Forrest Smith acquired the restaurant property in 2013. In November 2021 the restaurant announced that it would close, having been unable to reach an agreement to renew the lease.

References